A parent's guide to choosing movies

Suzanne Woods Fisher

On the morning of October 16, 1993, a pickup truck in Pennsylvania struck two teenagers as they lay on the freeway, leaving one dead and the other seriously injured. The dead boy's parents said he was imitating a scene in The Program, a movie released by Disney's Touchstone Pictures. This scene shows college football players lying in the middle of a highway as cars whiz by, in an attempt to prove their courage. That same weekend, a 17-year-old New Jersey youth was critically injured while mimicking the same scene. In an unprecedented action, the Walt Disney Company removed the scene from the movie.

In June, 1993, four youths killed a man during an attempted robbery. Two of the boys told police they were "hyped up" and "got ideas" from the film Menace II Society.

Did the parents of those boys ever dream that engaging in a simple pastime such as watching a movie could have such a dangerous effect on their children?

Ratings

Daily newspapers report a climate of growing concern about the connection between popular culture and incidents of violence. Prior to 1968, most motion pictures were rated for a general audience. Less than 3% of today's movies are so rated. In fact, 64% of current films now fall into the most restricted categories, reports the Family Film Journal. Moreover, the categories are not the same as they were five years ago. John Evans, director of Movie Morality Ministries, notes, "Each rating becomes more lenient over time".

On the other hand, a film shouldn't be dismissed simply because of a restricted rating. The Black Robe is an example of an R-rated movie with historical merit in its portrayal of a French Jesuit who brings Catholicism to Canadian Natives in 1634. Not every new movie needs to be a Shirley Temple remake. The Bible itself is full of dramatic, violent and romantic stories and, if made into a 90s movie, would not receive a G-rating. Each graphic conflict described in the Bible is important to showing God's redemptive plan. Certain plots and storylines call for dark conflict to explore and examine the human condition.

Christian teens

How selective are Christian teens in choosing films? Not very, says a survey conducted by Preview Movie Guide. About a third of those surveyed had seen the sexually explicit Basic Instinct and the very violent Alien 3. Bob DeMoss, youth culture specialist for Focus on the Family, states that there is no appreciable difference between the entertainment choices of churched and non-churched kids.

Kids don't buy the fact that movies can have a considerable or even moderate effect on them. This is probably the most significant difficulty that parents and teachers must deal with in persuading kids to be selective moviegoers. "A lot of movies aren't that bad," says Susan Schlicher, mother of two teens. "But they aren't that good, either. For example, couples who live together without marriage is typical for movies, but that impression desensitizes my kids to the values we hold."

What to do

How can parents stay a step ahead of their kids, while helping them to become discerning viewers?
  • Establish viewing rules for your family. Set a good example; don't send your kids conflicting messages.
  • Whenever possible, view movies with your kids. Susan Schlicher tells her son that she'll sit elsewhere in the theatre, away from him and his friends. "My intent is not to embarrass or smother him, but to see what he's seeing and to discuss films intelligently afterward."
  • Insist on knowing the content of a film before your kids see it. Check out reviews, or read the book on which the film is based. "When my kids want to see a movie," explains Angie McAndrew, "I tell them what the movie is about. Sometimes, they decide on their own that they don't want to see it."
  • Help your kids develop critical thinking skills by asking them questions about a movie afterwards: What was the plot? What did you like about it? What didn't you like? How was the conflict resolved in the film? Can you think of a better way to solve the problem? How realistic was the film? Rather than offer a steady stream of criticism on a movie, point out the empty messages. Explain that such films are in conflict with what God says, but leave the convicting to the Holy Spirit. Help your teen prepare for increased independence by teaching him or her how to make responsible decisions.
  • Don't overlook videos. Rental videos can present even more conflict than theatre-going. The home video industry is growing 16-17% a year; it's already one-and-a-half times larger than the movie theatrical business. What parent hasn't had a child bounce home from a birthday party with the proud announcement that the group viewed a particularly creepy movie? What one family considers worthwhile entertainment might shock other parents, even among Christians. Each family must discern its own standards. However, if your child is involved in a party, you have the right to make inquiries about what movies will be shown. If the video is a problem to you, offer to supply an alternative.

    The word to remember as you approach movies is awareness. Understand the ratings system and movie trends, and communicate with your kids.

    Suzanne Woods Fisher is the media consultant and video reviewer for Christian Parenting Today magazine. She lives in Alamo, CA and has four children. This article is condensed from a longer article first published in Parents of Teenagers.

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